Covering apparatus for opening of underground pipeline or box

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a covering apparatus for a personnel opening of a sewer, a tap water pipeline, or an underground pipeline or box for telecommunication or electric power devices. More particularly, the covering apparatus includes an adjustable height corresponding to the rising of paving. The covering apparatus includes seat assembly and a cover installed on the seat assembly. The seat assembly includes a primary seat and at least one secondary seat. The primary seat defines a cavity for receiving the cover or, if necessary, a lip of the secondary seat. The secondary seat defines a cavity for receiving the cover. Thus, the height of the covering apparatus can be increased. Level difference between new paving and the cover can be eliminated, and the safety of pedestrians, riders and drivers using the new paved road is improved. Moreover, the covering apparatus can be assembled effectively regarding time and labor.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an opening of an underground pipeline or box and, more particularly, to a covering apparatus for such an opening. The covering apparatus includes an adjustable height based on paving. Moreover, the covering apparatus can be assembled effectively regarding time and labor.

2. Related Prior Art

A covering apparatus is used for an opening of a sewer, a tap water pipeline, or an underground pipeline or box for devices for fire fighting, telecommunication or electric power in order to control the access thereto of personnel and equipment. A typical covering apparatus includes a hollow seat, annular or rectangular, and a cover installed on the hollow seat. In use, the covering apparatus is secured to the top of the sewer, pipeline or box. The cover must be flush with paving in order to keep the paving smooth.

When the covering apparatus is installed initially, the cover can be flush with the paving since it is so designed. However, because there is no design for adjusting the height of the covering apparatus, if the paving is renewed, or the sewer, pipeline or box is remade, a level difference will occur between the cover and the paving. A pit occurs in the paving. This is particularly so in the country where the paving is often renewed by providing a 10-cm layer of asphalt while the height of the covering apparatus cannot be adjusted. Generally, pavers make a slope descending to the cover. Yet, the pit still exists and causes pedestrians, riders and drivers to bump over it, and sometimes causes traffic accidents. The pedestrians, riders and drivers are endangered.

To solve the above-mentioned problem, the pavers dig the covering apparatus, and replace the sewer, pipeline or box with longer one or lift the box. This however demands a lot of time and labor. Furthermore, the road must be closed and the traffic is jammed. Alternatively, the hollow seat is replaced with higher one. However, as the hollow seat is not broken, such replacement causes unnecessary waste and increases the cost of public works. Alternatively, to reduce the working hours or the cost, some pavers provide a layer of asphalt on the cover. That is, the cover is concealed. Hence, a large area of the paving has to be broken in order to find the cover. Such a finding process demands a lot of labor and time. This means a high cost of maintenance or repair. This could mean loss of property or life in an emergency.

The conventional covering apparatus fails to provide proper solutions to the problems such as the un-adjustable height, the demand for time and labor. The traffic safety is affected, and the cost is increased.

The present invention is therefore intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

An objective of the covering apparatus according to the present invention is to increase the safety of pedestrians, riders and drivers by providing a covering apparatus with a height adjustable based on paving.

Another objective of the covering apparatus according to the present invention is to provide a covering apparatus with a height adjustable easily and effectively regarding labor and time.

According to the present invention, a covering apparatus includes a seat assembly and a cover for closing the seat assembly. The cover includes a lip on the bottom. The seat assembly includes a primary seat and at least one secondary seat. The primary seat is hollow and includes a first cavity in the top for receiving the lip of the cover and a second cavity therein. The secondary seat is hollow and includes a first cavity in the top for receiving the lip of the cover, a second cavity therein and a lip on the bottom for insertion in the second cavity of the primary seat or another secondary seat. Thus, the secondary seat can be provided between the cover and the primary seat in order to easily adjust the height of the covering apparatus if necessary.

Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment referring to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a covering apparatus according to the preferred the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seat assembly and a cover of the covering apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a primary seat of the seat assembly and the cover shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 but shows the cover lower than new paving.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a primary seat and a secondary seat of the seat assembly and the cover shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a covering apparatus for an opening of a sewer, a tap water pipeline, or an underground pipeline or box for devices for fire fighting, telecommunication or electric power according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The covering apparatus includes a seat assembly and a cover 20. The seat assembly includes a primary seat 10, at least one secondary seat 30 and several braces 40.

The covering apparatus will be described in detail referring to FIGS. 1 through 3. The primary seat 10 is hollow such as annular, rectangular and polygonal. Preferably, the primary seat 10 is annular. The primary seat 10 defines a first cavity 11 in the top for receiving the cover 20 and a second cavity 13 for receiving the secondary seat 30 if necessary. The diameter of the first cavity 11 is larger than that of the second cavity 13. Around the external side of the primary seat 10 is formed a flange 15 for connection to the secondary seat 30. In the flange 15 are defined several pairs of locking holes 16 such as screw holes. The locking holes 16 are made in pairs for firm connection of the secondary seat 30 to the primary seat 10. The cover 20 includes a lip 21 or insertion in the first cavity 11 of the primary seat 10 in order to position the cover 20 properly in order to prevent undesired objects from falling through the seat assembly.

The shape of the secondary seat 30 is hollow corresponding to that of the primary seat 10. Preferably, the secondary seat 30 is annular. The secondary seat 30 defines a first cavity 31 in the top for receiving the lip 21 of the cover 20. The first cavity 31 of the secondary seat 30 is identical to the first cavity 11 of the primary seat 10. The secondary seat 30 defines a second cavity 33 for receiving another secondary seat 30 (not shown). The secondary seat 30 includes a lip 34 on the bottom for insertion in the second cavity 13 of the primary seat 10 or the second cavity 33 of another secondary seat 30 (not shown). Around the external side of the secondary seat 30 is formed a flange 35. In the flange 35 are defined several pairs of locking holes 36 such as screw holes corresponding to the locking holes 16. The locking holes 36 are made in pairs for firm connection of the secondary seat 30 to the primary seat 10. Each of the braces 40 includes an upper horizontal portion, a lower horizontal portion and a vertical portion between the horizontal portions. The braces 40 can be used to hold the flange 15 of the primary seat 10 and the flange 35 of the secondary seat 30. The braces 40 can be used to hold the flanges 35 of two adjacent secondary seats 30. In the upper horizontal portion are defined two apertures 41 corresponding to the locking holes 36 of the secondary seat 30.

The cover 20 can be installed on the primary seat 10. Alternatively, the cover 20 can be installed on the secondary seat 30 that can be installed on the primary seat 10. Therefore, the height of the covering apparatus is adjustable easily.

The operation of the covering apparatus will be described in detail referring to FIGS. 1, 3 through 5. Referring to FIG. 3, when the covering is installed initially, only the primary seat 10 and the cover 20 are used, and the top of the seat 10 is flush with paving 50 while the top of the cover 20 is marginally higher than the paving 50. Referring to FIG. 4, after the paving 50 is renewed and raised by about 10 cm, it is higher than the cover 20.

In response, the cover 20 is moved away. The secondary seat 30 is put on the primary seat 10, with the lip 34 of the secondary seat 30 put in the second cavity 13 of the primary seat 10. The braces 40 and several fasteners 45 such as screws hold the flange 15 of the primary seat 10 and the flange 35 of one of the secondary seats 30 together. The fasteners 45 are driven into the locking holes 16 and 36 through the apertures 41. The lip 21 of the cover 20 is put in the first cavity 31 of the secondary seat 30. Again, the seat assembly is closed, and the top of the cover 20 marginally higher than the paving 50 referring to FIG. 5. Thus, no pit occurs in the paving 50.

If the paving 50 is renewed again, another secondary seat 30 (not shown) can be used. In such a case, the braces 40 and the screws 45 hold the flange 15 of the primary seat 10 and the flange 35 of one of the secondary seats 30 together, while additional braces 40 and additional screws 45 hold the flanges 35 of the secondary seats 30 together. Thus, the covering apparatus does not jump or spin when it is run over by vehicles, i.e., its stability is ensured.

As discussed above, when the paving 50 is renewed and raised, one or more secondary seats 30 are put on the primary seat 10, and this will avoid any pit in the paving 50. Moreover, only the cover 20 is moved away before the secondary seats 30 are installed, the process of adjusting the height of the covering apparatus is effective regarding time and labor and is convenient.

The present invention has been described through the detailed illustration of the preferred embodiment. Those skilled in the art can derive variations from the preferred embodiment without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the preferred embodiment shall not limit the scope of the present invention defined in the claims. 

1. A covering apparatus comprising a seat assembly and a cover (20) for closing the seat assembly, the cover (20) comprising a lip (21) on the bottom, the seat assembly comprising: a primary seat (10) being hollow and comprising a first cavity (11) in the top for receiving the lip (21) of the cover (20) and a second cavity (13) therein; and at least one secondary seat (30) being hollow and comprising a first cavity (31) in the top for receiving the lip (21) of the cover (20), a second cavity (33) therein and a lip (34) on the bottom for insertion in the second cavity (13; 33) of one of the primary seat (10) and another secondary seat (30), so that the secondary seat (30) can be provided between the cover (20) and the primary seat (10) in order to easily adjust the height of the covering apparatus if necessary.
 2. The covering apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the primary seat (10) and the secondary seat (30) are annular.
 3. The covering apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the primary seat (10) comprises a flange (15) on the external side, wherein the secondary seat (30) comprises a flange (35) on the external side, wherein the seat assembly comprises at least one brace (40) for holding the flanges (15; 35) together.
 4. The covering apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the flange (35) of the secondary seat (30) comprises a plurality of locking holes (36) therein, wherein the brace (40) comprises a plurality of apertures (41) therein corresponding to the locking holes (36), wherein the seat assembly comprises a plurality of fasteners (45) driven through the locking holes (36) and the apertures (41).
 5. The covering apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the fasteners (45) are screws, wherein the locking holes (36) are locking holes.
 6. The covering apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the internal diameter of the first cavity (11) is larger than that of second cavity (13) of the primary seat (10).
 7. The covering apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the internal diameter of the first cavity (31) is larger than that of second cavity (33) of the secondary seat (30). 